US3976500AExpiredUtility

Method for dissolving non-ferrous metals

47
Assignee: ENTHONEPriority: Aug 27, 1973Filed: Mar 31, 1975Granted: Aug 24, 1976
Est. expiryAug 27, 1993(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
C23F 1/44
47
PatentIndex Score
6
Cited by
2
References
10
Claims

Abstract

Non-cyanide alkaline aqueous solutions for stripping non-ferrous metals, especially copper, from ferrous metal such as, for example, steel. The stripper solution comprises a water-soluble nitrate, a water-soluble compound of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R represents a valence bond, --CH 2 ) x wherein x is an integer of 1 to 2, ##EQU2## WHEREIN Y IS AN INTEGER OF 1 TO 2, OR ##EQU3## and M is a compatible, hydrophilic, i.e. water-loving or water-solubilizing, cation, a water-soluble persulfate, a water-soluble urea compound, and ammonium hydroxide. Brass, cadmium and zinc can also be stripped from steel by the stripper or dissolving solutions herein.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for stripping a non-ferrous metal from a ferrous metal substrate without any substantial attack on the ferrous metal substrate, which comprises contacting the non-ferrous metal on the ferrous metal substrate with a non-cyanide alkaline aqueous solution consisting essentially of about 15 to about 85 g/l of a water-soluble nitrate, about 0.1 to about 20 g/l of a water-soluble compound of the formula ##EQU4## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a valence bond, --CH 2 ) x  wherein x is an integer of 1 to 2, ##EQU5## wherein y is an integer of 1 to 2, and ##EQU6## and M is a hydrophilic cation, about 17 to about 220 g/l of a water-soluble persulfate, about 1 to about 65 g/l of a water-soluble urea compound, and ammonium hydroxide in amount sufficient to adjust the pH to within the range of about 9 to about 10, and maintaining the non-ferrous metal on the ferrous metal substrate in contact with said solution until the non-ferrous metal is dissolved from the ferrous metal substrate. 
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1 wherein the solution consists essentially of the following constituents in proportions within the proportion ranges hereafter specified:                          g/l                                                
__________________________________________________________________________
Water-soluble nitrate (calcu-                                             
 lated as ammonium nitrate)                                               
                       about 20 to about 80                               
Water-soluble compound of                                                 
 the formula                                                              
 ##STR11##                                                                
wherein R is selected from the                                            
group consisting of a valence                                             
 ##STR12##                                                                
 ##STR13##                                                                
y is an integer of 1 to 2, and                                            
 ##STR14##                                                                
 cation                                                                   
 (calculated as ammonium                                                  
 oxalate)              about 0.1 to about 20                              
Water-soluble carbonate                                                   
 (calculated as ammonium                                                  
 carbonate)            0 to about 45                                      
Water-soluble persulfate                                                  
 (calculated as ammonium                                                  
 persulfate            about 17 to about 220                              
Water-soluble chloride                                                    
 (calculated as ammonium                                                  
 chloride)             0 to about 65                                      
Water-soluble formate                                                     
 (calculated as ammonium                                                  
 formate)              0 to about 25                                      
Water-soluble urea compound                                               
 (calculated as urea)  about 1 to about 65                                
Water-soluble citrate                                                     
 (calculated as ammonium                                                  
 citrate)              0 to about 30                                      
Ammonium hydroxide     Sufficient to adjust                               
                       pH to about 9 to                                   
                       about 10.                                          
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       3. The solution of claim 2 wherein the water-soluble nitrate is selected from the group consisting of nitrates of ammonium and an alkali metal, M of the formula ##STR15## is selected from the group consisting of ammonium and alkali metal cations, the water-soluble carbonate is selected from the group consisting of carbonates of ammonium and an alkali metal, and water-soluble persulfate is selected from the group consisting of persulfates of ammonium and an alkali metal, the water-soluble chloride is selected from the group consisting of chlorides of ammonium and an alkali metal, the water-soluble formate is selected from the group consisting of formates of ammonium and an alkali metal, and the water-soluble citrate is selected from the group consisting of citrates of ammonium and an alkali metal. 
     
     
       4. The solution of claim 2 wherein the water-soluble urea compound is urea. 
     
     
       5. The composition of claim 3 wherein the water-soluble nitrate is ammonium nitrate, R of the compound of the formula ##STR16## is a valence bond and M is an ammonium cation, the water-soluble carbonate is ammonium carbonate, the water-soluble persulfate is ammonium persulfate, the water-soluble chloride is ammonium chloride, the water-soluble formate is ammonium formate, and the water-soluble citrate is an ammonium citrate. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim 1 wherein the contacting is carried out at a solution temperature in the range of room temperature to about 120° F. 
     
     
       7. The process of claim 6 wherein the solution temperature is room temperature. 
     
     
       8. The process of claim 1 wherein the contacting is for a period of about 60 minutes. 
     
     
       9. The process of claim 1 wherein the contacting is by immersing. 
     
     
       10. The process of claim 1 wherein the non-ferrous metal is copper.

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